My German Shepherd puppy has diarrhea and is lethargic. Is it serious?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on your description, it is difficult to say for sure what the primary problem is as there are many causes of these symptoms. I do worry about him becoming dehydrated from the diarrhea. If this is a persistent problem and he is losing weight, I would recommend having him examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I would have his blood tested in addition to the examination to begin with and go from there. I hope this helps and that Woody gets better soon! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I am sorry to hear about Sadie. She definitely needs to visit a vet for this issue since it has been going on for so long. If she seems weak, has abdominal pain, is not eating or is vomiting, is having trouble breathing, or has pale gums then these would be reasons to seek emergency care. If not I would try to get an appointment at your vet as soon as possible.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Mocha is adorable! Since she is only 8 weeks old and is now lethargic I think you should have her seen when your Vet reopens. Bring a stool sample with you. Also bring any paper work showing vaccinations you received when you got her. Causes of diarrhea are: intestinal parasites, viral (parvo virus) and bacterial infections, she ate something gross that upset her tummy, toxin ingestion, food allergy/intolerance, new food/treat/human food. I hope this helps and I wish Mocha a speedy recovery!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diarrhea can be observed with conditions such as colitis, gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, intestinal parasites, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Zekie evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They may choose to check for parasites and to start medications for diarrhea depending on the results. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Hi, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is difficult to say whether Tucker's lethargy is due to illness or from the vaccine. When puppies his age are lethargic, have vomiting, and/or are having diarrhea, I always worry about the possibility they have parvo. Since Tucker has two of the three, I would highly recommend having him examined by a veterinarian and having a parvo test run as well as a fecal examination as soon as possible. The parasites could also be the culprit, but even if he doesn't have parvo, it is better to check and know for sure. Additionally, this will give the doctor a chance to give Tucker some supportive care, if needed, to help him through his illness. Hope this helps!

If lethargy is not present, you could try, as a first approach to start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 48hours. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days. I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if the signs persist or you notice more vomiting, lethargy or inappetence. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

It always concerns me when young puppies get lethargic. Puppies are more susceptible to the effects of dehydration and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) than adult dogs, so diarrhea is more serious for Wallace than it would be for an adult dog. If he's back to acting normally, eating, drinking, and doesn't have further diarrhea or vomiting, it's perfectly fine to continue monitoring him at home. However, if he remains lethargic, has more mucousy diarrhea, begins to vomit, or refuses to eat or drink normal amounts, then you should have him examined by his vet. Your vet will need to do a physical exam. Depending on their suspicions based on their exam findings, they may recommend some diagnostic testing or may opt to start him on some medications. Possible causes of this type of issue include stomach upset from a virus, intestinal parasites, among many other issues. If your vet finds that Wallace is dehydrated, they'll also be able to give him some fluids. I hope that he feels better soon!